1After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
With this verse comes an abrupt change in the book of Revelation. In 1:19, Jesus said to John, “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” In chapter 1, John wrote the things which he had seen – his vision of the ascended Christ. In chapters 2 and 3, John wrote “the things which are” – the messages to 7 churches in the province of Asia which were in existence at that time. Beginning with this verse in chapter 4, John will write “the things which shall be hereafter.” John heard the same voice that he had heard in chapter 1 which sounded like a trumpet (1:10). It was the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. That same voice now calls John into heaven, saying, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”
Another abrupt change that takes place at this point in the book is that there is no more mention of the church until the last chapter. There we read, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (22:16). The word “church” occurs 19 times in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation and then never occurs again until the last part of the last chapter of the book. Through all the judgments which will be described in the coming chapters, there is no mention of the church at all. This silence says very loudly that the church will not be present in the world at that time. In I Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul wrote, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The same trumpet voice that called John in Revelation 4:1 to “Come up hither” will call the body of true believers to meet Him in the air before the judgments of the coming chapters take place. As Jesus said to the church in Philadelphia, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (3:10).
2And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
John speaks four times in the book of Revelation of being in the Spirit or of being carried in the Spirit to a place (1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). In the Spirit he went up into heaven and had perception of a throne and of One sitting on the throne.
3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
John 1:18 says, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. When John was called by Jesus to “Come up hither,” John did not see a clear form of the Father, the One sitting on the throne. But in chapter 1, he saw a detailed vision of the Son, who reveals the Father. The majority of the Greek manuscripts do not specify whether the description in this verse refers to the One sitting on the throne or to the throne itself. John’s vision of God’s throne is similar in some respects to the vision which Ezekiel described in Ezekiel 1. Ezekiel also saw a rainbow round about the throne (Ezekiel 1:28). Ezekiel may have seen the Son on the throne, as did Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-7; John 12:37-43), since Ezekiel described the form of a man (Ezekiel 1:26-27). We should not be surprised that such an awesome vision would be mysterious.
4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
There are 12 references to the 24 elders in the book of Revelation. They sit on thrones (the word translated “seats” is the same word that is translated “throne” in this verse), are clothed in white raiment, and wear crowns of gold. Their worship seems to be in coordination with that of the four living creatures (4:10). It is one of the elders who tells John that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome and is the One who will open the scroll and its seven seals (5:5). In chapter 5, the Lamb stood in the midst of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders (5:6). Each of the elders has a lyre and golden bowls full of incense which represent prayers of believers. They have been redeemed to God with the blood of the Lamb out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (5:8-9; see notes there). They are surrounded by millions of angels (5:11; 7:11). They worship the One on the throne and the Lamb (5:14). After the sealing of the 144 thousand Jewish servants of God, John saw an innumerable multitude of people clothed in white garments. It was one of the elders who explained to John that the multitude he saw had come out of the great tribulation (7:13-14). After the sounding of the seventh trumpet and proclamation that the kingdom of the world had become the kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ, the 24 elders give thanks. They speak of God’s imminent judgment of the dead, His giving of reward to the prophets and to all who fear His name, and His destroying those who have destroyed the earth (11:16-18). They are still before the throne of God, together with the four living creatures, when the 144 thousand are seen with the Lamb on Mount Zion (14:1-3). Together with the four living creatures, the 24 elders join in the “Alleluia” concerning God’s judgment of Babylon (19:4).
So who are the 24 elders? The statement that they have been redeemed to God with the blood of the Lamb from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (see notes at 5:8-10) indicates that they are human beings. “Elder” is a title that is frequently found in both the Old and New Testaments and is used to describe mature believers or leaders in Israel and in the church. It may be that the 24 elders John saw are 12 representatives of Israel and 12 representatives of the church. Similarly, the gates of the New Jerusalem are inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, and the 12 foundations of the wall of the city are inscribed with the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:12-14). If this thought is correct, then in both cases we see Israel and the church together in heaven – distinct from each other, yet united. In this case, a question might be raised as to how there could be 12 elders from Israel sitting on thrones prior to the time that the Old Testament saints are resurrected in Revelation 20:4-6. From the time of Christ’s death and resurrection, the spirits of the Old Testament believers have been in heaven. Their bodies will be resurrected in the future. Just as the souls of the martyrs we will read of in 6:9-11 had visible form and specific location before their bodily resurrection, surely the spirits of the Old Testament believers in heaven now have some visible form and specific location.
5And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
The lightnings, thunderings, and voices proceeding from the throne of God are likely indicative of the storm which is imminent. The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, the seven Spirits of God, represent God the Holy Spirit (see notes at 1:4-5).
6And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:
Unlike the sea of Revelation 13:1, from which will come the beast, the glassy sea before the throne of God has no impurity and nothing hidden. Earth’s sea is threatening and is a picture of death. John’s words in Revelation 21:1 are striking: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” In this summary description of the difference between the new heaven and earth and the old, there is only one fact given: “there was no more sea.” That one summary statement is sufficient because the sea that we know pictures death. There will be no more sin and death in the new heaven and new earth. Peter said the same thing in the positive: Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3:13). The sea which John saw before the throne of God stands in contrast to the dark, threatening sea of earth. The sea before God’s throne gives testimony to the holiness of His presence. It says that in His presence there is a holy place of security and safety for His people, a place away from sin and death. Note Revelation 15:2: “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” They who had been so threatened on earth by the beast which came up from the sea could stand secure on this sea in the presence of God.
and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
The word translated “beast” in these verses is not the same as the word translated “beast” in 6:8; 11:7; and in many passages later in the book. The word used here means “living being.” The four “beasts” here are not wild animals. They are angels. Their faces are very similar to the faces of the angels that Ezekiel saw: As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10). Ezekiel called those angels cherubs (Ezekiel 10:15). Each angel that John saw had only one face. The face that Ezekiel said to be the face of an ox is likely the same as what John described as “like a calf.” The word John used for “calf” is the same word that the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament uses for “ox” in Ezekiel 1.
The four faces are very meaningful. Each one reflects an aspect of the work of Christ. The first living creature was like a lion. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5:5); He is the King. The second living creature was like a calf. The word Ezekiel used for “ox” and the word John used for “calf” are used of sacrifices (Leviticus 4:10; 9:4; Hebrews 9:12). The third living creature had a face as a man. Jesus is the Son of Man. The fourth beast was like a flying eagle. Eagles’ wings are used as a metaphor of deliverance in Exodus 19:4 and Revelation 12:14. Jesus is the King, the Sacrifice, the Son of Man, and the Savior. The four living creatures glorify Him by reflecting these aspects of His Person and work. So should we glorify Him in our service to Him by reflecting His character and His work.
In verses 2-7 of this chapter the central focus is the throne of God. After John saw the throne in verse 2, each new detail is given with relation to the throne: “round about the throne,” “out of the throne,” “before the throne,” “in the midst of the throne.” (The words “in the midst of the throne” probably mean “in the midst where the throne was.”) Heaven is and will be a wonderful place. It will be wonderful because God is wonderful. His throne is the focus of heaven. His presence will make heaven a place of complete security and satisfaction. We will eternally delight in Him.
8And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
The cherubs that Ezekiel saw had four wings each (Ezekiel 1:6). The four living creatures of Revelation have six wings each like the seraphs that Isaiah saw (Isaiah 6:2). The four living creatures are the angels nearest the throne of God. They speak day and night of the holiness of God. Their wings supply mobility, a means to cover themselves (Ezekiel 1:11; Isaiah 6:2), and the capacity to shield (Exodus 25:20; Hebrews 9:5). Their eyes imply awareness. No intruder could get past them. Of course, God needs no protection, but the presence, characteristics, and words of the four living creatures bear witness to the inaccessability to the throne of God of anything which is not holy. Indeed, access to the throne is only by means of the One whom their faces image: the King, the Sacrifice, the Son of Man, the Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ.
9And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The four living creatures speak words giving glory, honor, and thanks to God. Apparently they do this day and night at intervals. Whenever they do it, the 24 elders join them by falling down before God, worshipping Him, and casting their crowns before His throne. The elders do this at the prompting of these angels who image the Savior-King. No one of the elders takes independent action. The elders cast their crowns before the throne, thus continually acknowledging that the rewards they have received are of the grace of God. With their words the elders acknowledge that the One worthy to receive the glory and honor and power is not they themselves, but the Creator of all things. The elders are likely speaking of the glory, honor and power that ought to and will be His in the created world. God already possesses absolute glory, honor, and power. But today, in the world that He created, men and women seek to withhold and deny the glory and honor and power that is His. The elders declare that because all things were created on account of His will, He is worthy to reign over His creation in unrivaled glory, honor, and power.
Note: All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.